Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 292 The Roar of the Defeater, Snowflakes Fluttering, North Wind Howling
Kucha camp.

After a day and a night of rest, the rebels launched an attack without regard for anything else. All the soldiers swarmed forward, leaving limbs and broken bodies everywhere, and the shouts of battle echoed for miles around.

Blood mixed with sand and gravel created the unique tragedy of the desert. Under the blazing sun, the king and the rebels, blood and sand, corpses piled up like mountains.

Both sides bet their last chips.

The rebel leader sent his personal guards, who were all able-bodied men from his own family, mostly his sons and nephews, who shared his interests.

The King of Kucha declared that he would reward the bravest warrior with the Star of Bliss, and whoever could kill the rebel leader on the battlefield would be granted the title of Prince of Kucha.

Just as the battle was at its most intense, a general wearing a bronze mask led his elite troops, fully armored, to charge in. The rebel army was exhausted and their morale had long been worn down. How could they possibly defeat Di Qing?

Di Qing, wielding a curved blade, swept it horizontally, a fleeting aura of a blue dragon flashing past. The rebel leaders Min Hongkui and Hong Xuehan were cut down from their horses by Di Qing. Di Qing reached out and grabbed the two heads, lifting them up with the tip of his blade, and shouted: "The rebel leaders are dead, you will all kneel down and surrender!"

Watching from a distance, Hu Tiehua grumbled, "Are all pretty boys this ruthless? The paler their faces, the ruthless their hands!"

Ji Bingyan sneered: "Idiot!"

This is a battlefield, not a martial arts contest. Every order will affect the lives of thousands or tens of thousands of people, determining whether you will become a general and achieve great success or end up as a bone on the banks of the Wuding River!
Who dares to be merciful on the battlefield?
Who knows how much strength the rebels have?

He swung his sword and cut them off cleanly and decisively. Even if the King of Kucha had spies, assassins, and loyal followers around him, they had lost their value now that their master was dead.

Unwavering loyalty until death is extremely rare.

At the very least, it's impossible for it to appear among the "rebels".

Upon hearing Di Qing's shout, the King of Kucha immediately cried out, "You have been deceived by treacherous villains! Those who kneel down and surrender will be pardoned, while those who resist will be killed without mercy!"

This was the order the rebels had been waiting for.

Where are there so many soldiers who genuinely rebel?

I'm just trying to make a living!
They obey whoever pays them the most.

This is one of the unspoken rules of the Western Regions.

Is it possible that they will settle scores later?
impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
The King of Kucha would at most kill a few ministers and a few mid-level officers, but he would never kill his soldiers.

It wasn't because the King of Kucha was wise and powerful, nor because he was magnanimous, but because of interests. In the vast deserts of the Western Regions, population was the most important resource.

The ancient kingdom of Kucha was no longer the important town of Anxi during the Tang Dynasty. Changes in underground waterways and the decline of the Silk Road led to a sharp decrease in the population of Kucha.

Killing all the rebels sounds very satisfying.

and then?
Who will defend the Kingdom of Kucha?
Who will resist the invasion of foreign enemies?

It's like voluntarily putting yourself on the chopping board, and incidentally cutting yourself a few times to turn yourself into fish fillets.

The battles between the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions are exactly the same as the battles between the martial arts forces of the Western Regions. They only hunt down high-ranking figures. While indiscriminate killing may feel exhilarating, it will not only provoke resistance but also weaken themselves.

As I said before, in the Western Regions desert, the most precious resource is people, not gold and silver, not rare iron, and certainly not some exotic poison from the Western Regions!
The last rebel leader, Andeshan, the head of the most powerful clan in the Kingdom of Kucha, gave a bitter smile, drew his sword before being captured alive, and committed suicide.

The King of Kucha laughed heartily, looking up at the sky.

Borrowing troops from neighboring countries would easily invite trouble and lead to being swallowed whole. Asking the Song Dynasty for help is much more cost-effective. The Song Dynasty is not the Tang Dynasty and does not yet have the ability to establish a protectorate in the Western Regions. It will not directly annex the Kingdom of Kucha; at most, it will only demand tribute.

"Hahahaha! Men, prepare a banquet to entertain our distinguished guest. We shall return to the capital with me!"

……

With the victory in the great battle and the reclaiming of the throne, the King of Kucha had a great victory, except for the loss of a stunningly beautiful woman. His spy was killed by Li Zhaoting.

To be honest, the King of Kucha was quite infatuated with Shi Guanyin's body, so it was a pity that she died!

The King of Kucha curled his lip, thinking to himself that his beloved concubine was truly short-sighted. If she had obediently followed him, she would be a queen consort now and an empress dowager later, enjoying all the glory and wealth. Wouldn't that be much more comfortable than being a stone Guanyin?
That's really true.

Shi Guanyin's most prominent characteristic is her narcissism. She has an exceptionally wicked personality and is extremely jealous. However, her ambition is very, very small, and she never thought of becoming a queen or a tyrant.

Shi Guanyin likes to act arrogantly within her own little territory, never offending any prestigious sects or powerful figures. She limits her actions and, within the limits of her strength, does her best to seize benefits.

In the original storyline, Shi Guanyin kept her distance from masters like Xue Yiren and Li Guanyu, and dared not provoke masters like Tie Zhongtang and Shuimu Yinji.

In the final stage of her scheme, Shi Guanyin's ambition was merely to become the Queen Dowager of Kucha, rule from behind the curtain, secretly control the kingdom, and keep a group of gigolos.

When Shi Guanyin sets her sights on the Kingdom of Kucha, the major powers of the Western Regions will never provoke her lightly. Shi Guanyin is very skilled in martial arts and has a giant eagle for transportation. If Shi Guanyin goes into hiding and carries out an assassination against a certain power, no one can stop her, and the Demonic Sect will also have a major headache.

Extreme narcissism, extreme self-awareness, plus unparalleled beauty—she can get along comfortably anywhere.

Unfortunately, Stone Guanyin insisted on breaking the "heavenly rules".

The law of absolute certainty: no mercy will be shown.

Planting eagle essence and refining medicinal powder is an act that cannot be tolerated by heaven and earth!

If Pandora's box were opened in this world teeming with powerful figures and ambitious individuals, who knows what it would turn into? The only option is to nip it in the bud and bury the nest of the Stone Guanyin completely under the yellow sand.

"Damn, this is exhausting! If I had known this would happen, I should have brought Sheng Lan to the desert. Her Overlord Spear is perfect for looting, arson, and demolishing houses at an unparalleled speed."

Li Zhaoting made a couple of sarcastic remarks, then recovered his true energy and looked at Liu Wumei beside him: "Aren't you curious why I destroyed such a good fortress?"

"Not curious at all!"

Liu Wumei calmly shook her head.

"why?"

"I have no ambition to dominate the martial arts world, nor do I want to master unparalleled martial arts. I only want to get rid of the bone-corroding poison and live a good life with my husband. Whether Master Li occupies this place or forcibly demolishes it, what does it have to do with me?"

"I want to know something."

"what's up?"

“You got painkillers from Shi Guanyin and have survived until now thanks to them. I want to know where you buy painkillers in Central China. Give me your contact information and I’ll have Lan Fenghuang help you detoxify.”

"So that's how it is. Master Li ruthlessly destroyed Shi Guanyin's lair in order to destroy... Never mind! What's the use of saying all this? I know two channels."

"Say!"

"Wolf Mountain! The Underworld Mountain Cult!"

Please keep this a secret.

"I will not divulge a single word of this."

"This is my mark. Take this mark to Lan Fenghuang, and she will help you detoxify. You can also go to Medicine King Valley to find Shi Jiugong, Peng Daying, and Xu Qiaozhi!"

Li Zhaoting reached out and grabbed, and the yellow sand gathered in his palm into a small sword, with sword intent flowing on it.

Having witnessed the world-destroying power of the Tathagata's divine light, Liu Wumei was no longer surprised by this move. She accepted the small sword and returned to the Central Plains as quickly as possible to seek medical help from Lan Fenghuang.

"Wolf Mountain... the Underworld Sect..."

Li Zhaoting stroked the gold ingot and instructed, "Remember the smell from earlier. Once we return to the Central Plains, if you smell a similar scent, tell me immediately, understand?"

Li Zhaoting gently stroked the dog's head.

Yuanbao let out two human-like sobs.

……

"Cheers! Cheers!"

The Kucha camp was filled with laughter and joy.

People kept toasting Chu Liuxiang, but his smile was stiff, and he wasn't in a good mood.

Li Zhaoting was very cautious, leaving Chu Liuxiang to protect the king to prevent a last-ditch effort. As it turned out, caution was always wise.

Shi Guanyin's maid was her disciple and also an assassin she left behind. She was ordered to assassinate the king, but was stopped by Chu Liuxiang. All of Shi Guanyin's confidants were captured. From the assassin, it was learned that Shi Guanyin would kidnap a group of beauties every now and then and train them to be assassins. She had a large number of disciples. She didn't know if she had a spy named Black Pearl!
"Rongrong, Hongxiu, Tian'er!"

Where are you?

"What exactly does Black Pearl want to do?"

Just as Chu Liuxiang was gazing at the moon with sentimental feelings, Li Zhaoting returned to the camp with good news: Shi Guanyin's stronghold had been completely wiped out, and the three women had not been found.

This is certainly good news.

This proves at least one thing: the three women were not disfigured or tortured into the shape of a stone hunchback by Shi Guanyin!

Seeing Chu Liuxiang's strange expression of mixed feelings of sorrow and joy, Li Zhaoting picked up his brush and painted a series of pictures entitled: Chu Liuxiang's Reflections Under the Moon!

One scene shows Chu Liuxiang eating roasted meat and thinking that the taste is not good, and that the chef's cooking skills are far inferior to Song Tian'er's.

One painting depicts Mei Zhu grinding ink for Li Zhaoting, while Chu Liuxiang watches from afar, standing alone and forlorn, so lonely that one feels compelled to weep for him. Needless to say, he is clearly longing for Li Hongxiu, the woman who used to add fragrance to his life.

One painting depicts Li Zhaoting and Feng Suzhen surrounded by soldiers cheering and toasting them, showing the couple's harmonious and intimate relationship.

Chu Liuxiang was accompanied only by his yellow dog, which was gnawing on a large bone and didn't even look at him. Chu Liuxiang wanted to cry but couldn't, and he forced back his tears, which filled his eyes.

Li Zhaoting is a master of Photoshop, creating exquisite portraits with imaginative compositions that use joyful scenes to highlight sorrow and the bright moon to express his feelings.

The film vividly portrays Chu Liuxiang's emotions, anxieties, joys and sorrows, along with his longing and worries for his three beloved women, bringing the emotions to their fullest expression.

The last image only shows his back, lacking even the carefree spirit of raising a cup to invite the moon. Chu Liuxiang's fists are clenched, the lights behind him are dim, and there are glistening teardrops on the grass.

A man doesn't easily shed tears!
A real man will cry in secret.

Hu Tiehua came over to watch the commotion and saw the four paintings drawn by Li Zhaoting: "My God! Are you a god? This is too tragic! I want to cry for Chu Liuxiang, his loneliness is heartbreaking!"

Ji Bingyan rarely agreed with Hu Tiehua's words, and nodded emphatically: "Chu Liuxiang, don't worry! I will definitely help you find them. I can issue a reward."

Chu Liuxiang: I swear to God! I'm not that sad, I'm just feeling sentimental!

Li Zhaoting then painted another picture.

The north wind howled, and the snow was white. Chu Liuxiang knelt on the ground, raised his hands, and prayed to the heavens.

The painting is accompanied by a poem:
snowflakes fluttering
The north wind howls
The world was a vast expanse of white.

A sprig of plum blossoms stands proudly in the snow.

The fragrance wafts only for her.
—On a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, Li Zhaoting saw that Chu Liuxiang was longing for his beloved, became depressed and emaciated, and was moved by his deep affection, so he painted a picture to pray for Chu Liuxiang's well-being!
Chu Liuxiang, both amused and exasperated, put away the drawing.

Li Zhaoting's reputation is very impressive, and his figure paintings are extremely valuable. If he ever needs money, these paintings can fetch tens of thousands of taels of silver. If he sends them to an auction and finds some wealthy people who want to curry favor with him, he can sell them for seventy or eighty thousand taels of silver.

Now that you've picked up a paintbrush, how can you just put it down?

Everyone is happy today!
Li Zhaoting painted five portraits of Di Qing.

These are: marching through the night, strict military discipline, decisive command, capturing enemy generals and flags, and returning in great victory!

Feng Suzhen also had five paintings.

These are: Studying diligently for years, Rising at the crowing of the rooster, Mulan joining the army, Deploying an ironclad formation, and Pacifying the war!
The King of Kucha and Princess Pipa both received a share.

The King of Kucha laughed and said that he would enshrine these paintings in the temple, and that hundreds of years later, people would remember the Kingdom of Kucha and this great victory.

The banquet lasted until late at night.

Di Qing fell into a deep sleep, clutching the books and paintings.

—To accomplish the affairs of the king and the world, and to win fame both before and after death!

Di Qing was only in his early twenties this year, far from being the legendary general or the "Nian Nie General" of the future. This was the first time in his life that he had made a great contribution. In Di Qing's view, this achievement might not be passed down, but his calligraphy and paintings would certainly be passed down.

Given Li Zhaoting's reputation, a century from now, many people will write books about him, and by then, the value of Li Zhaoting's calligraphy and paintings will skyrocket, and he will be studied by countless scholars.

These paintings will then become famous throughout the world.

Di Qing's premonition was correct.

More than a decade later, Di Qing grew into the renowned and powerful General of the Necklace Army. This set of celebratory paintings, recording Di Qing's first battle, became the most precious historical material.

The following morning, another reinforcement team, hired at a high price by the King of Kucha, arrived. This was a well-known tribe in the desert, led by a chief named Jamukha.

After Jamukha's death, Black Pearl became the leader.

The one who arrived was Black Pearl's top general, a fierce man skilled in horsemanship and archery, codenamed Green Beard!

Upon hearing that Black Pearl's subordinates had arrived, Chu Liuxiang rushed out of the tent without even brushing his teeth or washing his face.

"Are you Black Pearl's subordinate?"

"May I ask your Excellency..."

"Chu Liuxiang!"

"So it's Commander Chu. I've long admired your name. The young prince instructed us to be respectful when we see Commander Chu and to obey your every command."

Upon hearing this, Hu Tiehua retorted, "Would you go and die? What are you planning?"

The man with the green beard said with a smile, "Please forgive me for not being able to accept this order. As everyone knows, Chu Xiangshuai never kills anyone. Therefore, it is definitely not Chu Xiangshuai who is ordering me to commit suicide. I only obey Chu Xiangshuai's orders."

"So, your young prince is that Black Pearl, who cares deeply about Chu Liuxiang?"

Ji Bingyan punched Hu Tiehua away to stop him from talking nonsense and took the initiative to question him.

Chu Liuxiang was too anxious to speak.

It wasn't Chu Liuxiang's fault; it was entirely because Li Zhaoting's painting was too melancholic. Last night, Chu Liuxiang's mind was filled with images of snowflakes falling and the north wind howling. He tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep, his brain a complete mess.

"Of course, my young prince worked on cases with Chu Xiangshuai for half a year and greatly admired Chu Xiangshuai's character and martial arts skills, saying that Chu Xiangshuai was a great hero."

"If that's the case, why would Black Pearl kidnap Chu Liuxiang's family? Where are they?"

"Sir, are you joking? The young prince admires and trusts Chu Xiangshuai, how could he possibly harm Chu Xiangshuai's family? Is there some misunderstanding?"

"Really no kidnapping?"

"Absolutely not! Impossible!"

Ji Bingyan asked, "When Black Pearl returned to the desert from the Central Plains, did she bring anyone back with her?"

Green Beard nodded: "You mean this! The young prince brought back three young ladies. They are all smart, lively, and beautiful. They always have a sweet smile on their faces, as if they know nothing of sorrow in the world. Seeing their smiles, even if you are exhausted after a long day, you will feel refreshed."

After a pause, the man with the green beard said, "The three young ladies are all honored guests of the young prince. They are very close. They eat at the same table, travel in the same carriage, and sleep in the same bed."

How could it have been looted?

Who is spreading rumors about the young prince?

We are a tribe, not a gang!

We would never stoop to extortion or kidnapping!

Upon hearing this, Hu Tiehua was filled with horror, Ji Bingyan's face turned ashen, and Chu Liuxiang was like a stone statue, cracked with hundreds of fissures, ready to shatter into pieces at the slightest breeze.

"Awooooo~~"

Yuanbao is lying on the ground providing the voice for Chu Liuxiang!
(End of this chapter)